Diagnostic test | Guideline | European study | |
---|---|---|---|
PIDS-IDSA | BTS | ||
Chest radiograph | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Complete blood count | Yesa | No | Yes |
Acute phase reactants (CRP, serum PCT, ESR) | Yesa,b | No | Yes |
Sputum samples for bacteria | Yes | Not specified | Yesc |
Tests for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia d | Yes | Yes | Yesc |
Tests for respiratory virusesd | Yes | Yes | Yesc |
Blood culture | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nasopharyngeal secretions | Not specified | Yes | Yesc |
Serum electrolytes | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |
Not recommended | Urinary antigen detection for pneumococcus Diagnostic testing for Chlamydophila pneumoniae | Urinary Antigen detection for pneumococcus Acute phase reactants | |
Other | Tracheal aspirates for gram stain and culture | Pleural fluid for microscopy, culture and antigen detection |